Clinical toxicities and dosimetric parameters after whole-pelvis versus prostate-only intensity-modulated radiation therapy for prostate cancer.

Purpose: To assess whether whole-pelvis (WP) intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is associated with increased toxicity compared with prostate-only (PO) IMRT.

Methods And Materials: We retrospectively analyzed all patients with prostate cancer undergoing definitive IMRT to 79.2 Gy with concurrent androgen deprivation at our institution from November 2005 to May 2007 with a minimum follow-up of 12 months.

Role of anemia prior to radiation treatment in local recurrence and survival after breast conservation treatment for early-stage breast cancer.

Background: Anemia is common among patients with newly diagnosed cancer, may be exacerbated by cancer therapies, and leads to radioresistance by lowering oxygen levels in the tumor microenvironment. Herein, the effect of breast irradiation on hemoglobin levels and outcomes in breast conservation therapy is reported.

Patients And Methods: Medical records of 1368 women with stage 0, I, and II breast cancer treated with breast conservation therapy from 1977-2002 were reviewed.

Outcomes after breast conservation treatment with radiation in women with ductal carcinoma in situ and prior nonbreast malignancy.

Management of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast is controversial, as not all patients progress to invasive carcinoma. This report analyzes the outcomes after breast conservation treatment (BCT) with radiation in patients with DCIS following prior malignancy at another anatomic site. The study cohort was comprised of 14 women with DCIS who were treated between 1978 and 2003.

Daily isocenter correction with electromagnetic-based localization improves target coverage and rectal sparing during prostate radiotherapy.

Purpose: To evaluate dosimetric consequences of daily isocenter correction during prostate cancer radiation therapy using the Calypso 4D localization system.

Methods And Materials: Data were analyzed from 28 patients with electromagnetic transponders implanted in their prostates for daily target localization and tracking. Treatment planning isocenters were recorded based on the values of the vertical, longitudinal, and lateral axes.

Outcome after breast conservation treatment with radiation for women with triple-negative early-stage invasive breast carcinoma.

Background: Triple-negative breast carcinoma is defined by a primary tumor that is estrogen receptor negative, progesterone receptor negative, and HER2 negative. The current study was performed to determine the relationship of triple-negative tumor status to outcome after breast conservation treatment with radiation.

Patients And Methods: A total of 519 women with early-stage invasive breast carcinoma underwent breast conservation treatment with radiation.

The role of primary androgen deprivation therapy in localized prostate cancer.

Background: Primary androgen deprivation therapy (PADT) is frequently used as a sole modality of treatment in men with localized prostate cancer, despite a lack of clinical trial data supporting its use.

Objective: To measure the impact of treatment with PADT compared to observation on overall survival in men with organ-confined prostate cancer.

Design, Setting, And Participants: The design was for an observational cohort from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Medicare data.

PET and Radiation Therapy Planning and Delivery for Prostate Cancer.

PET imaging has become an integral component of the diagnosis and management of a substantial number of lymphatic and solid malignancies. One of the greatest dilemmas in prostate cancer remains the need for greater personalization of treatment recommendations based on the true extent of disease, so that patients with extraprostatic, micrometastatic disease can be identified early and managed accordingly. These sites currently remain under the level of detection with standard imaging and continue to confound clinicians.

Regional nodal recurrence after breast conservation treatment with radiotherapy for women with early-stage breast carcinoma.

Purpose: To report the long-term outcomes for women presenting with regional lymph node recurrence after breast conservation treatment with radiotherapy for Stage I and II invasive breast carcinoma.

Methods And Materials: Of the women with pathologic Stage I and II invasive breast carcinoma treated with breast conservation treatment at the University of Pennsylvania, 29 developed regional nodal recurrence as their first site of failure. An analysis of the patterns of regional nodal recurrence and their prognosis after recurrence was undertaken.

Outcomes after breast conservation treatment with radiation in women with prior nonbreast malignancy and subsequent invasive breast carcinoma.

Purpose: Little information has been reported regarding outcomes after treatment for patients with early-stage invasive breast cancer and a prior nonbreast malignancy. This report analyzes the outcomes in patients with Stage I and II breast cancer after breast conservation treatment (BCT) with a prior nonbreast malignancy.

Methods And Materials: The study cohort comprised 66 women with invasive breast cancer and a prior nonbreast malignancy.

Internet-based survey evaluating use of pain medications and attitudes of radiation oncology patients toward pain intervention.

Purpose: Pain is a common symptom among cancer patients, yet many patients do not receive adequate pain management. Few data exist quantifying analgesic use by radiation oncology patients. This study evaluated the causes of pain in cancer patients and investigated the reasons patients fail to receive optimal analgesic therapy.

Validation and toxicity of PI3K/Akt pathway inhibition by HIV protease inhibitors in humans.

Purpose: Activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway in tumors leads to radiation resistance, and inhibition of this pathway radiosensitizes tumors in laboratory models. Several first-generation human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease inhibitors (HPIs) inhibit Akt activation and are radiosensitizers. In order to validate a biomarker of Akt activity in anticipation of clinical trials using HPIs combined with radiotherapy, we sought to determine whether Akt activation was inhibited in leukocytes of HIV+ patients that were already taking these agents.

Biopsy findings after breast conservation therapy for early-stage invasive breast cancer.

Purpose: To determine the patterns and factors predictive of positive ipsilateral breast biopsy after conservation therapy for early-stage breast cancer.

Methods And Materials: We performed a retrospective review of Stage I-II breast cancer patients initially treated with lumpectomy and radiotherapy between 1977 and 1996, who later underwent post-treatment ipsilateral breast biopsies.

Results: A total of 223 biopsies were performed in 193 treated breasts: 171 single and 22 multiple biopsies.

Patient initiation of complementary and alternative medical therapies (CAM) following cancer diagnosis.

Purpose: Complementary and alternative medicine use is prevalent in both healthy and oncologic populations. However, few data exist to quantify complementary and alternative medicine initiation specifically after cancer diagnosis. This study evaluated patients' complementary and alternative medicine usage patterns, reasons, and general perceptions after cancer diagnosis and during or after conventional cancer therapy.

Long-term outcome for mammographically detected ductal carcinoma in situ managed with breast conservation treatment: prognostic significance of reexcision.

Background: The importance of negative final resection margins for optimal local control has been established for women with ductal carcinoma in situ (intraductal carcinoma) undergoing breast conservation treatment. This study evaluated long-term outcome after breast conservation treatment and whether reexcision or the presence of residual tumor in the reexcision specimen predicted for local recurrence in patients with ductal carcinoma in situ with negative margins.

Methods: The study cohort consisted of 192 women with ductal carcinoma in situ treated with breast conservation treatment at the University of Pennsylvania from 1978 to 2000.

Importance of the treatment package time in surgery and postoperative radiation therapy for squamous carcinoma of the head and neck.

Background: To determine the effect of treatment time-related factors on outcome in patients treated with surgery and postoperative radiation therapy (RT) for locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (SCCHN) METHODS: A retrospective review was performed on 208 consecutive patients treated from 1992 to 1997 with surgery and postoperative RT (> or =55 Gy) for SCCHN. The treatment time factors considered were (1) interval from surgery to the start of RT; (2) RT duration; and (3) the total time from surgery to completion of RT (treatment package time). Treatment package time was dichotomized into short (< or =100 days) vs long (>100 days) categories.

A phase I study of cranial radiation therapy with concomitant continuous infusion paclitaxel in children with brain tumors.

Background: The prognosis of children with high-grade astrocytomas of the central nervous system is grim and has not been substantially improved by conventional chemoradiotherapy. We performed a multi-institutional phase I study to determine the toxicities and tolerance of concurrent external beam radiation of the brain and a unique dose-schedule of paclitaxel as a radiation sensitizer.

Procedure: Paclitaxel was delivered intravenously as a continuous 24 h/day, 7 days/week infusion during the entire 6-week course of fixed schedule standard radiation therapy.